Translation of Siva Song by Krishna Sastri

English Translation of Siva Song by Krishna Sastri

Can’t you (just) say “Siva”, “Siva”, and “Siva”?

(Can’t you utter “Siva”, “Siva”, and “Siva”?)

Is Siva's name a bitter pill to swallow?

Can’t you let your head

Rest on Siva’s feet?

Where is the unbearable

Anguish – of 

Crossing the ocean of birth (life)?

Isn’t He a compassionate servant?

Can’t you let His feet’s dust

Fall on you?

Won’t our drought end

By just saying “Hara”, “Hara”, “Hara”?

Elephant, spider, snake

And the hunter -

Didn’t He listen to their

Distress calls?

Did He not descend from Kailas?

And bestow salvation?

Can’t your mind 

Ever dwell on the 

Destroyer of Manmatha?

Is the veil of “attachment”

Blocking the mind?

Is it preventing you 

From seeing Him?

(Dedicated to the memory of my loving parents)

Copyright 2021 by the author

(Once my friend and I went around Pithapuram, Samarlakota, and nearby Siva temples on a Maha-Sivaratri day. Sri Devulapalli Krishna Sastry, the lyricist of this exquisite devotional song was from Pithapuram.)

Audio link: Gopalaratnam siva siva

Telugu lyrics link: siva siva anarada